Fire department warns wood shingles could fuel fires

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, April 13, 2009

Wood shake shingles, a popular rooftop trend on many older homes around the Tall City, could be more fuel when it comes to a potential fire at a residence, said Midland fire officials.

Midland Fire Department Assistant Fire Marshal David Hickman said that with West Texas weather being extremely dry in the first place, the shingles promote combustion and are a big fuel source during a fire.

"There's severe damage from the fire in the attic space due to the water application and extensive damage to the inside of the house," he said.

A fire last Wednesday at a Central Midland home was said to have "exploded" once it got into the wood shingles on the roof, as it quickly carried flames from the fire from one end of the home to the other.

The extra water firefighters had to use to control and put out the blaze resulted in the collapse of the ceiling above the kitchen and dining room area.

Hickman said he's seeing more homeowners either changing them out or layering cedar shake shingles in two layers to protect their homes.

He said there's been some debate for a long time in other jurisdictions about whether or not to allow the shingles. While they are attractive, he said, they are highly combustible and can spread a fire rapidly through the neighborhood.

"They make for a difficult delay and there's radiant heat which might spread the fire a little bit quicker and be so much more fuel for the fires," he said.